Device for opening tins.



P. SGHUNFELD. DEVICE FOR OPENING PINS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1913.

Patented July 7, 1914.

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WITN ESSE 6:

FERDINAND SCHGNFELD, or ZURICH, SWITZERLAND;

DEVICE FOR OPENING TINS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Piltflltfld July 7, 1914-.

Application filed April 25, 1913. Serial No. 763,529.

In the Iigures 1 to tithe present invention has been exemplified in a constructionalt'orin. Fig. 1 is a view of same seen from below, Fig. 2 is a. side'elevation, Fig. 3 and the plan Fig. 4 show the opener in use for opening a tin, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show the guard attachment.

()n the arm A of a handle-shaped part B is fitted by means of a screw pin C a freely revoluble circular cutter I). At a short distance from the shaft of this circular cutter a pin l) is rigidly secured in the arm A. A second arm l of the same part B is made in form of a rake having a number, say seven, tines (i, (i to G These tines are arranged in a circular curve around the shaft of the cutter in such a manner, that a circle K, corresponding to the diameter'of the smallest tin to be opened would touch the pin E, the cutter and the tine (i while a circle K corresponding to the diameter of the largest tin to be opened, would touch the pin E, the circular cutter and the last tine G All circles between this smallest and largest circle would, if drawn tangential to the pin I and the circular cutter cross the arm F at some point between the tines i and G. v

The operation in opening a tin is as follows: After the pin 11] has been engaged on the bead of the tin (Fig. 3), a slight pressure is exerted with the circular cutter against the shell of the tin by moving the handle in the direction of the arrow: the cutter will thereby penetrate the shell close below the lid. According to the sizeof the tin to be opened the circle corresponding to the inner edge of the head will cross the rake F close to one of its tines. If now this tine is also engaged on the head of the tin the circle corresponding to the inner edge which ScHoN- touches this tine and the pin E will not touch the circumference of the circular cutter but be tangential to a smaller circle on the said cutter as the cutter projects to a certain distance into the tin. WV hen now, after the pins have been engaged, the handle is turned to the one side or the other the circular .cuttcr will bear against the not yet out part of. the shell and will cut the same along its whole circumference revolving all the time. Owing to the resistance of the material the pins willbe kept tightly pressed against the inner rim of the head so that the cutter is always well guided and will penetrate. to a constant depth into the shell of the tin, so that a smooth and easy cut is obtained. The depth of the cut is determined at a given diameter by the relative positions of the pin, the shaft of the cutter-and the respective tine used; with other words d'itferent tines may be used for cutting av tin of the same diameter if a different depth of cut is required. In consequence thereof tins of any diameter can be opened, notwithstanding the small number of tines provided, as the depth of the cut can be varied within very wide limits without afi'ecting the quality of the cut. 7

The guard attachment according to Figs.

5 and 6 consists of a wall H surrounding the circular cutter in a half circle and preventing the cutter from injuring the hand holdingthe tin, should the pins engaged on the bead slip off. This wall is provided on that side of the cutter which is inoperative, and will therefore not obstruct the opening of the tins.

' I claim:

1.'An opener for cans having a beaded seam, comprising a cutter "to engage the outer side of the can; a pin to engage the inner. side of the bead adjacent the cutter; and a plurality of adapted to engage the inner side of the bead, saidtines being so arranged relative to the pin and cutter that circles of different diameters passing between said pin and the fixed tines one of which is cutter .Vlll come within the innermost and outer side of the can; a pin carried by said In tesfimon whereof I aifix my signature arm adjacent the cutter to engage the-inin presence 0 two Witnesses.

ner' side of the bead and a plurality of tines carried by the other arm one of which D N D is adapted to engage the inner side of the Witnessesi bead, substantially as and for the purpose M. M. MAY, specified A. PE BLE. 

